U.S. Bangladesh Advisory Council
Press release:
U.S. Bangladesh Advisory Council
USBAC Holds Reception Honoring Dr. Muhammad Yunus
BETHESDA, MD, April 28th 2005: The U.S. Bangladesh Advisory Council today held a dinner and reception
honoring Dr. Muhammed Yunus, the pioneer of micro-credit and the founder of Grameen Bank, Bangladesh.
At this event Dr. Yunus spoke of the need for Bangladeshi-Americans to work actively with their
representatives in Congress to ensure the passage of H.R. 886 or the Tariff Relief Assistance for
Developing Economies Act (TRADE) of 2005.
The bill would grant preferential trade treatment to South and South-East Asian developing countries and is
key to the economic development of these countries. Other speakers at this event included the
Ambassadors of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal as well as former Assistant USTR
Ambassador Ronald Sorini, and former U.S. Ambassador David Merrill. USBAC members who also spoke
on this occasion included USBAC Chair Mr. Shabbir Ahmed Chowdhury, and members Mr. Yusuf
Salahuddin and Mrs. Nilofer Ahmed.
Bangladesh Ambassador Tariq Karim handed a citation of Maryland Governor Glendening to Ms. Nilofer
Ahmed, a USBAC founding member, for her outstanding contribution to the Asian American community in
assisting their participation in mainstream America. The gala dinner was attended by community members
from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Cambodia. Several Bangladeshi American
organizations including Bangladesh Association of America and American Association of Bangladeshi
Engineers & Architects also attended the event.
U.S. Bangladesh Advisory Council
USBAC Holds Reception Honoring Dr. Muhammad Yunus
BETHESDA, MD, April 28th 2005: The U.S. Bangladesh Advisory Council today held a dinner and reception
honoring Dr. Muhammed Yunus, the pioneer of micro-credit and the founder of Grameen Bank, Bangladesh.
At this event Dr. Yunus spoke of the need for Bangladeshi-Americans to work actively with their
representatives in Congress to ensure the passage of H.R. 886 or the Tariff Relief Assistance for
Developing Economies Act (TRADE) of 2005.
The bill would grant preferential trade treatment to South and South-East Asian developing countries and is
key to the economic development of these countries. Other speakers at this event included the
Ambassadors of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal as well as former Assistant USTR
Ambassador Ronald Sorini, and former U.S. Ambassador David Merrill. USBAC members who also spoke
on this occasion included USBAC Chair Mr. Shabbir Ahmed Chowdhury, and members Mr. Yusuf
Salahuddin and Mrs. Nilofer Ahmed.
Bangladesh Ambassador Tariq Karim handed a citation of Maryland Governor Glendening to Ms. Nilofer
Ahmed, a USBAC founding member, for her outstanding contribution to the Asian American community in
assisting their participation in mainstream America. The gala dinner was attended by community members
from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Cambodia. Several Bangladeshi American
organizations including Bangladesh Association of America and American Association of Bangladeshi
Engineers & Architects also attended the event.